| A few facts about Kibbutz (background picture - a look at Nir Oz from the west towards the east) A friend asked me about kibbutz, and I thought perhaps there are others who would like to know something about the concept, and so here's a very brief look at kibbutz. About Kibbutz It's a 20th century experiment in socialism. People are voted in as members and live for the community as well as for themselves and their families. They give what they can in terms of labour and knowledge, and the community is thereby able to take care of everyone's needs. It began in the early 1900s. Jewish intellectuals wanted out from under the thumb of vast political exploitation in order to create a new society in a new land - at the time, the British Mandate of Palestine. When the kibbutz movement started, groups would practise community life in rural areas in Russia, the U.S. or in various parts of Israel, then after immigrating or "making aliya" to Israel, buy land and set up proper boundaries. At the time, the intention was to convert Israel from a malaria-infested swamp land, rocky and barren, to a livable green land. It worked well. That was in the early 20's. My partner's parents left the U.S. in '36 to begin such a community, and started Kibbutz Ein Hashofet together with other Americans and Polish immigrants. It was an odd blend, but somehow it all meshed. The location was and is not far from Haifa. Ein Hashofet today is a prime example of how an idea can grow and adapt successfully to changing times. The kibbutz movement was kept alive by peopleand their burning desire to put their ideology into practice. This intellectual fervour kept them strong under horrible conditions - including enemy attacks, hunger and disease. The kibbutz movement did a great deal to begin the country of Israel - which only attained statehood in 1948. The basic concept of kibbutz life revolves around communal living. At the beginning this involved separate children's houses, which allowed parents to guard the perimeter, or meet to discuss survival, while a few Caregivers would be available to take care of the children. At the time each child was a child of the Kibbutz, not just her or his parents. Meals were prepared communally; clothes and shoes were often shared in those early days. There was great emphasis on sacrificing personal individuality for the common good. (Perhaps you've heard of, or can imagine, the various side effects of that phenomenon) Today's kibbutzim are less idealistic, though I live on one where the social element is still very important. We have a common dining room, common laundry where clothes are washed, and folded and stored till members come to pick them up. Cars are common property, and we sign them out each time we take a day trip. We have a member who volunteers to oversee requests, and such requests are computerized. Our earnings are not considered private income, but instead, everything earned from normal 'city' jobs is given to the kibbutz. We each receive a yearly budget based on a number of components. The budget is quite small. Our family of 5, for example, receives about 10,000 dollars a year. We don�t pay rent or for water used, but we pay for electricity. The personal budget is the same for everyone. It doesn't matter if I'm a teacher, gardener or factory manager, my budget is the same. Decisions are made democratically. Everyone has equal vote at the poll booth. The community is run by an elected Secretary or Co-secretaries, and many committees. There is an umbrella Organization which works to link the kibbutzim around the country, and sends Representatives to other countries to organize youth or attract immigration. There's also an Organization for Volunteers that makes arrangements for people under age 35 to work on a kibbutz for a few months. Addenda: It takes maturity and personal responsibility to live in this country. Sometimes, Americans/Canadians make plans to come to Israel and set up household in the city.These people prepare, sell their material possessions, perhaps even learn a new language, and arrive. Surprise! It's nothing like they imagined - no romance, a lot of bureaucracy, inefficiency and now, at every entranceway to a mall, movie, or bus station, we all are searched for possible bombs. Many people can't deal with it all. North American life is comparitively easy going (though many are homeless, malnourished, impoverished) and there is a large middle class lifestyle which sets a materialistic standard. Many Americans/Canadians think I'm insane for giving up the pursuit of a good salary and material belongings. I, however, have experienced the joy of living with others for a common goal. Before I decided I'd like to live on a kibbutz, I'd lived communally in the city. Along with that, I've experienced the absurdity of watching an inept worker keep her/his job in the kibbutz at the expense of someone far more qualified and beneficial to the whole community, because of social concerns. These days, that is changing, as economics increasingly creep into everyday logistical decisions. This place has till today, erred on the side of sympathy rather than economy, and though it has made for a more 'human' attitude, it doesn't make for streamlined economic efficiency. FAQ Pregnancy? Women work as long as they can, and have a national insurance paid maternity leave of 3 months. With my youngest, Zohar, I worked till the day I gave birth. I went back to teaching when she was almost 3 months old. My support system included a Baby's House with reliable caregivers. I was free to go to work and know that as soon as she woke up, hungry, they would contact me and I would come to nurse her. This wonderful Baby's House would have welcomed Zohar from the age of a few days. I could have left her in their care and lived my life. Since she was born just before summer vacation, I had the option of being with her all day! I used to drop in to simply be there for a little while and have her start to recognize the place. But mostly, for those first few months, I opted to keep her with me while i made puppets (i recall pushing her in the carriage with my foot while gluing foam rubber, trying to keep the contact cement away from her nostrils). Some women have to take it easy during pregnancy and under doctors' orders, they do so. No one complains, because raising children is an almost sacred role. Most women are cool with the system, a few take advantage, and they continue to do so, wherever they "work". Some men also work at half-mast (no pun intended). For the most part, the workforce is active and continues working past retirement age - though that is up to the individual. Child Care? Today, now that children live at home with their parents (till age 16 or 17 when they get their own room on the kibbutz), there are Beit Yeladim or "Children's Houses" which operate during school vacations and after school. Children who are ill and can't go to school rest in the Children's House with a caregiver. Their parents are still free to go to work. Standards of Behaviour? It is expected that people are and always will be human. Theoretically there is no private income, but some members have private property from lives before joining the kibbutz, or from inheritance. Most of those people do not surrender that income to the kibbutz. The laws of the land are paramount(no stealing, killing, blackmailing, etc). Sexual offenses (rare) are investigated - if the victim doesn't go to the police, then things are handled in a manner that allows all concerned to continue living in a socially acceptable manner. Income? Income is agriculturally and factory based. We've developed, for example, a substance that when spread over seeded fields retains moisture with minimum of wind-loss. Our crops do well - peanuts, carrots, potatoes and wheat. We have one citrus orchard We have partial ownership in a factory Nir Lat which produces paint and silicone products. We we also manufacture Ostrich feed. (There's an Ostrich farm 10 minutes away). We've recently become partners in a network of hothouses for growing flowers for export. We raise cattle and send them off to market, but we have no dairy. We also have chickens that we raise from chicks and send away at the next stage of their life cycle. Many kibbutzniks work outside of the kibbutz and bring home salaries. Shopping on the kibbutz? We buy clothes - either from a modest store on the kibbutz or from regular shops in the cities. Food � We pay for our meals in the Kibbutz Dining room which serves 3 meals a day aside from Saturday. We have a small store for groceries and toiletries, open a few hours each day except Saturday. Is Nir Oz typical? This kibbutz is not like most - we're considered reactionary - slow to change. Many kibbutzim are headed towards more privatization. We shall see what the future holds. What about politics? Our border is about 1000 yards from the Gaza strip. The impact of that is felt in qassams that reach our fields. We have had to build security structures to protect our Children's Houses. Kibbutz Nir Oz celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 2006. We created a commemorative Journal featuring interviews with kibbutzniks of all ages. This was distributed amongst the members. Ask to see a journal if you come visit us. Take a look at some pictures here Questions: contact the webhostess (update: May 2007) |
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